Three Australian teenagers are being investigated by police after reports a kangaroo was beaten and killed while they were at a school camp.

Torquay College principal Pam Kinsman said today that the students were immediately suspended after a teacher reported that a kangaroo had been beaten to death with a metal pole.

She said the boys could be expelled or be ordered to carry out community work.

Victoria Police have cautioned one student and will question the other two.

"We are taking the matter extremely seriously. We are co-operating with police," Kinsman said.

"If it’s found they did the wrong thing, the community is going to be deeply upset," she said. "This is a school with high standards of respect for each other and the environment."

The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act stipulates maximum penalties of a 28,000 Australian dollar (£16,500) fine or two years’ imprisonment, said Greg Boland of the RSPCA.

"This is a concern to the RSPCA and must be a concern to society as well, and that’s why there’s got to be some intervention in relation to these juveniles so that this behaviour is not repeated in any way," Boland said.

The students were part of a group on a three-day camping trip to a national park earlier this month.